Donald T. Saposnek, Ph.D. a Clinical-Child Psychologist and Child Custody Mediator, is the author of the 1983 classic text, Mediating Child Custody Disputes, now in its revised 1998 edition. Dr. Saposnek is the former long-time editor of Mediation News, the newsletter of the Academy of Family Mediators, and is now the editor of Family Mediation News, the quarterly publication of the international Association for Conflict Resolution.

Dr. Saposnek has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Academy of Family Mediators, has published extensively on child custody and child psychology, and is on the editorial boards of several international mediation journals. He is a national and international trainer in mediation and child development and has been teaching on the faculty of the Department of Psychology at the University of California, Santa Cruz, for the past 34 years. He also is on the faculty of the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution of Pepperdine University's School of Law and offers semi-yearly mediation trainings in Malibu, California and Woodstock, Vermont. 

In addition to conducting over 4,500 child custody mediations over the past 34 years. Dr. Saposnek is also a Family Therapist and Clinical-Child Psychologist in private practice with over 40 years of experience, specializing in the full range of child and adolescent-related behavioral and emotional problems. He has had a long-time sub-specialty of consulting with parents and teachers on the unique issues of Special Needs Children, particularly those on the Autism Spectrum. He also regularly works with couples regarding both marital and divorce-related issues. As a Marital Therapist, his goal is to teach couples problem-solving and conflict resolution skills, so they are better able to manage daily marital issues that arise and enhance what is already good in the marriage. In his divorce-related roles, he offers services as a Relationship Clarification Counselor (assisting couples in making the decision whether to remain married or seek divorce); as a Divorce Counselor (assisting couples in selecting an optimal method for getting a divorce, and educating parents on the expected consequences of divorce for their children and on ways to best protect their children through a divorce); as a Child Custody Mediator (assisting parents in creating a Parenting Plan); and as a Co-Parenting Counselor (assisting parents in implementing their Parenting Plan with a minimum of conflict). Please note that Dr. Saposnek does no evaluative work  in divorce-related matters. This means that all of his divorce-related roles are conducted within a strictly confidential format and protected from attorney subpoenas and disclosure to court-appointed custody evaluators and other personnel in Family Court.

Dr. Saposnek is the recipient of a number of awards. These include:

• The 2002 international Association for Conflict Resolution's JOHN M. HAYNES DISTINGUISHED MEDIATOR AWARD. This prestigious award is presented in recognition of an individual's outstanding contributions to the field of mediation. The individual is selected from more than 7,000 members of the association, representing 47 countries and 18 different areas of mediation practice.
• The 2002 Monterey Bay Psychological Association's OUTSTANDING PSYCHOLOGIST AWARD, presented in recognition of his exceptional contributions to the field of psychology and to the development of model court mediation and parent education programs benefiting children of divorce, both locally and nationally.
• The 2003 California Psychological Association's AWARD FOR DISTINGUISHED CONTRIBUTION TO PSYCHOLOGY AS A PROFESSION. This prestigious award is presented in recognition of an individual's outstanding contributions to expanding the areas of influence by psychologists in our society.

TRAININGS OFFERED TO DIVORCE PROFESSIONALS

Dr. Saposnek offers a variety of trainings and workshops for divorce professionals. Bringing over 34 years of mediation experience and mediation training, 18 years as Director of Family Court Services in Santa Cruz County, CA, combined with over 40 years as a practicing Clinical-Child Psychologist and University Psychology Faculty, he offers the following trainings in a number of formats. These include:

• Half-day Workshop
• Full-day Workshop
• Two-day Workshop

These workshops are useful for private practitioners of both mediation and psychotherapy, court-related practitioners, family law attorneys, and family law judges. They are presented in a lively, entertaining, and engaging style.

PROFESSIONAL WORKSHOPS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE INCLUDE:

• "Developmental Needs of Children of Divorce: Current Research in Temperament and   Attachment."
• "Parenting Plans for Young Children."
• "Special Needs Children in Mediation and Evaluation."
• "Interviewing Children in Divorce."
• "Developing and Drafting Parenting Plans."
• "High-Conflict Divorce: Managing and Maneuvering Through Anger."
• "Child Custody Mediation Skills: A Strategic Approach." (Basic Workshop--for New Mediators) (Advanced Workshop--for Experienced Mediators)
• "25 Roles for Psychotherapists in Divorce Cases."
• "Advanced Issues for Mediators."
• "Understanding and Helping Children of Divorce."
• "Special Needs Children in Divorce."

Other specialized trainings and workshops can be developed to suit a particular group's professional needs. For more information, contact Dr. Saposnek at: (831) 476-9225 or at: dsaposnek@mediate.com.

WORKSHOPS OFFERED TO SCHOOLS AND PUBLIC GROUPS

Dr. Saposnek also offers Parenting Workshops to schools and public groups:

"PARENTING SKILLS" (BASIC AND ADVANCED). These workshops are centered around the core concept of the child's temperament, and how to design parenting approaches that optimize goodness-of-fit with each of their children's unique temperament styles.

These can be presented in the following formats:

• Keynote Address for an Organization
• Half-Day Workshop
• One-Day Workshop.
• Two-Day Workshop.
• 6-Week or 8-Week Workshop
• Consultations in any other format.

With the high incidence of divorce, school districts often find the workshops on parenting skills, particularly the aspects that deal with children of divorce, very useful for parent and teacher groups. Understanding what we have learned in the last 35 years about the special issues of children in divorce helps both parents and teachers to deal more effectively with these children and their families. Dr. Saposnek's forthcoming book on parenting serves as the core of these workshops.

For more information, contact Dr. Saposnek at: (831) 476-9225 or at: dsaposnek@mediate.com